January 21,2012
Just touring my neighborhood made me aware of how little I know about it. I have walked past McCaw School of Mines dozens of times and the day I photographed it, it took on a whole new perspective for me. Sometimes you just have to not only stop and smell the roses, but look around and take in the WHOLE scene. Grab your camera, shoot away and then see what you captured, it might surprise you!
– Eva Santiago copyright 2012
January 20,2012
Today I’m sharing some images I took of the goofy street names around my neighborhood. Also, I’ll give you a few facts about Henderson just in case you ever make your way down to Las Vegas and decide that it’s too crazy over there, then head on over to Henderson because it really is a BIG change of pace and scenery compared to that of wild Vegas.
My daughter and I found these street signs amusing. We figured they didn’t want to call the street Metal so they found a much fancier word like Tin. Then again, perhaps Basic/ Metal could be the gran-daddy of Heavy Metal Music which then would have drawn all the Heavy Rockers to this quiet neighborhood; much to the dismay of its peaceful residents… Yeah right! 🙂
Henderson celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. The township of Henderson emerged in the 1940s to supply the country with magnesium, the “miracle metal” of World War II. Although “born in America’s defense,” Henderson’s future after the war was uncertain until April 16, 1953, when city incorporation papers were signed.
Henderson was “born in America’s defense” ten years prior to its incorporation during World War II with the building of the Basic Magnesium Plant. The plant supplied the US War Department with magnesium for incendiary munition casings and airplane engines, frames, and other parts.
In 1988, the PEPCON rocket fuel factory became engulfed in fire. There were multiple explosions, some measuring over 3 on the Richter magnitude scale. Two people were killed. The explosion spurred the development of Henderson from industrial to the largely residential area it is today. There are no signs of the Pepcon explosion today, and the site now consists mostly of office buildings.
This street sign is a cruel joke. I live 6 hours from the lovely Pacific Ocean. Whoever named this street had to have been some thirsty, lone traveler marooned in the desert while hallucinating that the ocean was just over the next sand dune or cluster of cactus. Maybe he was waiting for “The Big One”, the quake that’s supposed to shake California right off the map. In that case I would have beach front property and this sign would not be lying and teasing desert dwellers anymore. Now THAT makes sense… whatever… 🙂
In 2006, Money magazine ranked Henderson 20th in its annual list of the top 100 places to live in the U.S.
Prevention magazine tapped Henderson in 2007 as the sixth best walking city in America, ahead of San Diego, California, and just behind Seattle, Washington. Henderson has more than 37 miles (60 km) of trails.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson,_Nevada
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
January 19,2012
For the next few days I’m posting photos of my neighborhood. This blog challenge inspires me to grab my camera and take it with me everywhere I go. Last Sunday I went for a short hike with my daughter Elena. I decided to put on my “tourist eyes” and challenged my self to look at my neighborhood as if I was on holiday, just passing through. It’s amazing how much a place can grow on you, then you take it for granted and it ceases being special anymore. During my self guided tour I found out what a rich little community I live in and I’m so glad I moved here. These images are part of large a mural that is on the wall of the 7-Eleven convenience store…amazing right? 🙂 Challenge yourself to put on your “tourist eyes” and view your surroundings as if you’re seeing them for the very first time. You’ll be surprised!
-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
January 18,2012
After today’s internet black out, I wanted to post a picture to give you something to smile about. This picture does it for me and I hope it cheers you up!
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
January 17,2012
Here is the horse I drew for Esther. At first her request intimidated me but I decided to try it. I found an image of a horse she liked online and I copied it. As I sat down to sketch out the horse, I kept running into some difficulty. Then I remember that I learned how to draw upside down when I was in the 8th grade. Mr. Atkins, my art instructor saw that some of us were having a hard time, so he suggested that we all turn the picture of the subject we were drawing upside down; in this way the left side of your brain won’t get in the way of what the right side is doing. I implemented it to draw this horse and I was glad I did. That night when her dad came home, Esther told him how I had drawn the horse up side down and he laughed in amazement. It’s mind blowing what we can remember from the past. I framed it andnow it hangs in her bedroom.
January 16,2012
I spent a week a couple of summers ago, with a childhood friend. She would go to work while I’d relax in her cozy condo. One morning I took my cup of tea to her outside porch. She lived in a heavily wooded place which I welcomed because where I live there aren’t any woods, just miles upon miles of tumbleweeds and cactus. That morning I dusted off her rattan furniture, I could tell she hadn’t been out there in a while. I settled into a comfy chair and as I took in the serene scenery, I happened to look down from her 2nd story condo. This is what I saw and it delighted me. I thought, gee, I wonder if my girl friend is aware of this pretty little oasis practically right under her feet? So I photographed it because I wanted to capture the feeling of peace that it brought me as I sat in my spot for the next few mornings. Sometimes you DO have to slow down enough to see the extraordinary in what seems ordinary.
January 15,2012
My daughter Esther has always had a fascination with horses. I would hear well meaning people tell me that it’s natural for young girls to have a love of horses. Well, she’s not so little anymore and she still adores them. I used to feel badly that I don’t have the money to get her one. As parents we wish we could give our kids everything they want. But one day I remembered what my uncle in whose home I grew up in told me when I was a kid: ” If I gave you all the things you want, you wouldn’t have anything to look forward to when you’re grown up.” So one day I told that to my girl and she looked up at me with those gorgeous long eyelashes that could sweep the moon right into my hands and she said,” It’s ok Mama, I understand. So could you draw me one instead? ” I told her I wasn’t sure I could do that and she said she knew I could since she’s seen my other art work. So I set about to do it and I pulled it off! Stay tuned because tomorrow that will be the picture I post. It’s wonderful when your own kids believe in you!
This is the house I finished growing up in. 2 summers ago I went back, not sure what I expected to find. I’m not one to take a stroll down memory lane. My husband on the other hand, is one to go back to all the old neighborhoods of his childhood every time he has taken me to his home town. I always found that a bit tedious, so when I did it, I came away with the same detached emotion. Personally, it’s better to reminisce about the past in my mind and forget about going to the actual places.Things change true enough; however there are things that remain intact and when I showed up at this house, I felt like I did back then, nothing. I meant nothing to the people I lived with in that house, and I still am nothing to them. Hence my lack of emotion for the place.
Eva Santiago copyright 2012
January 14,2012
January 13,2012
Weddings are so much fun to attend! I went to this one when I was in college; the couple in this photo are dear friends of mine who were there for me at a time when I had no one. At the end of the wedding when the bride threw the bouquet, she aimed it at me and I ducked. I sure didn’t want that experience in my life yet. I’ve been to several weddings, this was by far the most enjoyable. Cheers to T & M!!
EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
The famine that besieged Egypt and the rest of the world had come to an end. Joseph, along with the entire generation, had all passed away. And:
“A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know of Joseph.”(Exodus 1:8)
A LIFE LESSON 
Is it really possible that anyone – let alone a king – would be unaware of all that Joseph had done for the country? How could anyone in Egypt ever forget the vital role he played its survival? Joseph, as second in command and sole architect of making Egypt the richest country on Earth, should have been immortalized for eternity. It defies logic that anyone could forget the one person who single-handedly saved Egypt and the entire world from famine.
Joseph wasn’t forgotten in the sense that no one “remembered” him. Rather, the significance of his life-saving contributions had simply faded from everyone’s memory.
Joseph’s insights and acumen clearly saved the lives of every man, women, and child. But as soon as the necessity of his contributions were no longer needed, then the appreciation for Joseph ceased as well. When the pain of Egypt’s experience ended, so did their memory of Joseph.
During the massive famine that spread throughout the entire world, Joseph was at the center of it all. Every country was dependent upon Egypt for their survival. But when the famine ended, then Joseph’s help was no longer valuable or even needed. And, over time, the mental leap that someone makes from when a person‘s contributions are no longer needed and the memory of when they were so desperately needed becomes smaller and smaller. And after an entire generation passed away, the people in Egypt simply did not know of Joseph.
Difficult to imagine? It actually occurs in our own lives all the time. Think about it. There are people who have helped you enormously in the past in one way or another. And when they gave you their assistance – whatever it might have been – you certainly expressed your gratitude. But as time went on, it’s just not natural to continue to shower the person with appreciation and gratitude.
But this doesn’t mean that you can’t let them know “out of the blue” once again just how much you appreciate what they did for you. Saying “thank you” to the person long after they’ve given you their help, is such a beautiful and selfless way to live. And the recipient will appreciate it beyond words.
It is very easy to forget people who were there for us, because once their assistance is no longer needed, our appreciation for what they did can easily fade away. And as more and more time passes, we can actually completely forget those people who were there for us when we needed them the most.
It’s not that hard to show appreciation toward someone right after he’s helped you. But the true measure of a person is not demonstrated by the gratitude you show a person after he’s helped you. Rather, the measure of a person is demonstrated by the heartfelt gratitude he can still show long after the fact. True gratitude is not defined by a person who doesn’t forget; it’s defined by the one who always remembers. Make the call today.
Eva Santiago 